Kuker-Van Til Nature Preserve

Features

Hiking

At a Glance

Approximate Street Address: 2003 Perry Street, Holland, MI

Located just north of Holland, Kuker-Van Til Nature Preserve protects natural land in a highly developed area. A loop trail leads hikers through a variety of habitats: young oak forests, mature hardwood swamps, and open sandy dunes.

What to See

Just minutes from Holland, Kuker-Van Til Nature Preserve is a great place to enjoy a quiet stroll through rolling hills and towering trees. The diversity of habitats on the preserve – wetlands, forests, and open areas – makes the area a haven for birds and a variety of other wildlife. Hikers often spot deer, wild turkeys, and other animals during their visit.

Conservation Value

Kuker-Van Til protects a recovering oak forest in an area greatly affected by residential development. The mature hardwood swamp on the east end of the preserve supports many uncommon plant species and acts as a natural filter for surface water flowing into Lake Macatawa.

What’s New

The Land Conservancy is working to remove an old scotch pine plantation and establish a native oak forest in its place. Other stewardship efforts focus on removing invasive species such as oriental bittersweet and garlic mustard, which threaten the long-term health of the forest on the preserve.

History

Property owners Bernard (Bud) and Edith (Edie) Van Til watched as development engulfed the land around their property that had been in Edie’s family since 1932. For years they resisted the pressure to sell to developers, and worked instead to preserve the property in a natural state. After Bud’s death, Edie began talking with the Land Conservancy about ways to protect the land forever.

Edie passed away in 2005 before protection of the land was in place. The property was willed to Larry and Marilyn Blackburn, who had been neighbors and close friends of the Van Tils for many years. Fortunately, the Blackburns upheld Edie’s wishes for the property, and continued working with the Land Conservancy to protect the land. In 2006, the Land Conservancy established Kuker-Van Til Nature Preserve to maintain the scenic, natural character of the preserve for generations to come.

Visitor Information

Parking is available along the shoulder of Perry Street. The trailhead is marked with a preserve sign. Please note that dogs or other pets are not allowed at Kuker-Van Til.

Explore Nearby

This former cow pasture-turned-county park near Zeeland was returned to fields and wetlands. It meanders to miles of the Macatawa River, attracting a variety of wading and grassland birds. It offers extensive hiking and mountain biking trails.

Located near the lakeshore between Holland and Grand Haven, Palomita Reserve protects a critically-important Great Lakes marsh ecosystem. Its location along the multi-use Lakeshore Connector Path makes it easy to access and enjoy this beautiful property.

The Pigeon River is a small river with a slower current that meanders through mostly forested banks in Ottawa County. It has been nicknamed the “turtle trail” because the abundance of turtles that are usually easy to spot on the river.

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About Us

At the Land Conservancy of West Michigan, we work to keep nature nearby and help people protect, enjoy, and care for natural land in West Michigan. We conserve land by creating public nature preserves, providing support to communities and local governments creating natural areas, and helping private landowners protect their own land.